Radhika’s Story: Surviving Human Trafficking – Sharon Henry, 2010

“Radhika’s Story presents an incredible story of triumph over evil in the modern world. It is a moving account of what a mother’s love for her child can achieve even when the odds are stacked against them both. It is a horrifying first-hand account of a survivor of human trafficking in the 21st-century. It is a portrayal of the illegal and sordid underworld of trafficking in human organs.

A seemingly innocent sip of Coca-Cola, drunk by a starving and desperately thirsty 14-year-old girl led to the first of Radhika Pariyar’s human trafficking experiences. Drugged, Radhika woke up hours later, in great pain, only to discover that her kidney had been removed and sold to the highest bidder. Radhika was married by force but tried to make the best of her situation. She had a much-loved son, but Rohan’s birth signified the next harrowing episode in Radhika’s life – she was trafficked again. Living in India, separated from her son and forced to have sex with up to 25 men a day, Radhika refused to accept her lot. Desperate to be reunited with her child, she fought against the odds, finding the strength to escape her horrific life and rescue her son and finally find sanctuary in a refuge set up to help survivors of trafficking.

Journalist Sharon Hendry tells Radhika’s horrifying but incredibly inspiring story. She also highlights the pervasive nature of human trafficking in the 21st century. The author is donating funds from this book to Maiti Nepal, the refuge which helped Radhika and Rohan and which continues to help survivors of human trafficking.”

Who We Are

The Counter Trafficking in Persons Office (CTIP) is a joint project of the Leadership Conference of Consecrated Life [LCCL(SA)] and the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC). The original inspiration and promotion of this initiative is due to Constellation Six (C6) – congregations of religious women who have their Generalates in Southern Africa.